Hi there guys. Extremely long time no see. Guess University got the better of me and i stopped writing. Even though i'm as busy as can be, the bug has bit again and i'm going to try resume posting . Sorry if its a bit short. But i'm rusty, Scientific writing is a whole different bag of chips

Anyway. On with the story enjoy.

I went through my daily rituals that morning with a little more focus than usual as it was, in my mind, my first day as a ninja. I had showered, scrubbing myself with single-mindedness, trying to block out what I had done the night before. Every time I closed my eyes mizuki's face had popped into my head. I remember sitting on my shower floor the cold water covering me as I sat there crying. I had eaten a simple breakfast and donned my normal attire.

"I remember how such a simple action, taking a life, had had such a profound effect on my personality. Every time I was about to surface from my own thoughts something I would hear or see would plunge me down into my suffocating thoughts again."

I got to the academy about 5 minutes late and had trudged in on Iruka's congratulatory speech.

"You are now all ninjas and although you got through academy it does not mean you will survive being a genin. You will be forced to make difficult choices and if forced, take a life –

"That had frozen me halfway to my seat. I remember standing in the middle of the class on my way to an open desk. I remember the stares, I remember noticing Iruka's pain at realizing what was going through my mind, But bless his soul, he knew what to say to get me going."

-But remember taking a life to protect those close to you is the Konoha way. It is harsh but as Konoha Shinobi we prize protecting our comrades higher than anything else. Now it is time I announce your teams."

"My fellow students excited nervousness was contagious and had lifted my spirits a little. It was from that day that people had noticed the slight change in my demeanor, Me the normally obnoxious child was reserved and calm."

I had gotten to my seat and had sat down aware of the stares and the rumors that were going around. They had probably wondered why I was there, why I had a giant sword strapped to my back or why I was not loud and crazy. They wondered if I had something to do with the commotion the night before.

"- Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata, your sensei is Kurenai.. Team 7 will comprise of Uchiha Sasuke, Haruna Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto your Sensei is Hatake Kakashi."

"Now that I think back on my team, I was finally on a team with the girl of my dreams, although it may have been better if she was not on my team. Maybe then things would have gone differently. I was also on a team with a boy I had previously thought was my greatest rival, looking back I guess my greatest rival was myself. At the time I took my good fortune for granted, but those two really kept me going during the tough times. Especially Sakura…"

Once again I was given strange looks, the obnoxious kid had not wailed in frustration or cried out in excitement, rather I had given a small smile at Sakura's name and a nonchalant expression greeted the announcement of Sasuke.

"- as I was saying your sensei's are due to arrive after lunch. I suggest you take this time to get to know your team over the break. Class dismissed for the final time. Good luck and make Konoha proud."

"Iruka as always was so excited for his students, most of the time I think he glossed over the fact that he was training a military force and instead thought of teaching us as empowering us to protect ourselves. I now know the academy did not prepare us in any way for the harsh reality of Ninja life. "

As most of my class mates had left the room Shikamaru had held back. I always remember how perceptive he was,
"Yo, Naruto. I understand you had a rough night yesterday; I don't know what happened but don't forget that we are your allies and friends and if you need to talk I'll be around."

"Funny, even though we got along fairly well before, I would not have thought that Shikamaru would be one to understand me. Later on in my career I would take him up on that offer and he would keep me on the straight and narrow."

I spent the rest of the lunch period in the class room and I passed the time contemplating what our sensei would be like. Later the class returned and most people's sensei's came and picked them up. Kakashi was late as usual and this meant that Sakura had time to waste while Sasuke and I sat in silence. I remember watching her; I never understood my attraction to her. As a young kid I suppose it was because she was popular and pretty, but thinking back I realize I probably saw that loneliness she experienced. There was more to her than met the eye.

"Naruto, what's wrong with you. You haven't said a word to us? Trying to act cool like Sasuke with that sword on your back, you are just a poser. You will never be as good as Sasuke." Sakura had berated me

"I know it was silly and she was just acting out of boredom, but those words had hurt. I probably shouldn't have replied the way I did but I was tender after the previous night. Luckily Kakashi came to my rescue, I suppose he was probably watching us and assessing how we interacted. Kakashi was always a stickler for teamwork."

"Sakura, I'm not trying to be cool. I just can't be happy go lucky like you. Ninja life is not fun and games and playing family. People die, we have to get used to killing."

I remember how she had looked at me. Possibly then already she had caught a glimpse of the real me, not the obnoxious kid I acted as to get attention. I also saw her see this and brush it away. Her reply was stinging as it always is. She never did anything in half measures.

"Baka! What do you know about being a ninja? You couldn't even pass the academy, Iruka probably had to force the academy to allow you to pass and you are on our team because Sasuke and I are top of the class, so we will have to carry you. Don't talk about death when you don't understand anything about it."

"I remember how she had exploded at that last bit, I didn't know it at the time but I had hit a nerve. Luckily I was saved from further ruining my relationship with my teammates by the timely arrival of my Sensei."

"Now, now. Calm down kids. My name is Kakashi and I will be your sensei. Meet me on the roof and we can get to know each other."

On the roof he had introduced himself albeit with very little information, "Hello, as I said my name is Hatake Kakashi, I will be your sensei. I have many dislikes and there are quite a few things I dislike. I don't really have any dreams but I do intend to make sure we are the strongest team and are able to protect our comrades. You next, Uchiha."

"Sasuke's reply at the time shocked me but looking back I should have seen the signs. Ironically my new lack of innocence resounded a bit with his pain and I think it helped pave a way to not necessarily a friendship but more of a mutual acceptance. I followed his vengeance talk with my own introduction."

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto; I dislike those who threaten to hurt my precious people, I like my precious people and I hope to come to terms with the consequences of my actions and to change people's misconceptions of me."

I think the levity of the previous introductions may have had an effect on Sakura's introduction as it was not what any of us expected. "My name is Haruno Sakura, I like my family and dislike fake people, I dream to be a kunoichi that will make my parents proud and to also end up with a certain someone." The last bit of her intro was as expected but we had all expected a more Sasuke centric introduction.

Kakashi had weighed us up and then let us know we were to meet the next day at 8 for survival training and that we should not eat. I had said my goodbyes to my team as I had a meeting with Genma. We had set to meet in a small training ground in the forest away from prying eyes. When I got there Genma was waiting coughing as usual.

"Good morning Naruto-san, Are you ready for your first steps in training?" I was excited to tell you the truth. A little apprehensive but at least I would be able to make use of the lump of metal I had strapped to my back. "Hai, sensei. Where do we begin? I really want to be able to use my buster blade. I want to become a great swordsman."

Genma was a hard master to be sure. He forced me to run laps and do push ups while carrying the blade. He then forced me to hold the blade straight out for as long as I could. He said it was necessary to build up my upper body strength in order to be able to wield the sword. He said once I was able to effectively hold it up we could start proper training but until then I had to work on improving my core muscles and arms. He also forced me to do leg exercises to improve my legwork. By the end of that first half of the training session he had given me an entire exercise program to follow.

"Sensei, Do we have to keep doing exercise. How is it going to help having big muscles if I don't know how to use the sword?" I had whined. Even though I had been through so much, the training had helped me to get my mind off Mizuki's face. As such I was quite intent on getting the most out of my private training session.

I think I had impressed Genma with my endurance. Looking back on that training regime it was not meant for a 12 year old and yet I managed to at least complete it. "You have done well Naruto and while I was not planning on teaching you anything about swordsmanship today. Maybe we can at least work on your grip."

He had showed me how to correctly hold the sword in order to optimize my swings and it took a bit of getting used to but I eventually got it down. "That's enough for now Naruto-san. I will call it a night. We can meet again next week at the same time and place. Make sure you stick to the exercise regime I gave you." With that Genma had left. He probably expected me to go home but I wanted to improve. I spent most of that night practicing the swings he taught me and even did another set of the exercise regime. I was determined to be the Best swordsman I could be in order to change how people saw me.

That night I had worked myself to the bone and ended up sleeping in the training area. I suppose even then I took my training to seriously. But I suppose all Genma taught me would eventually be instrumental in forming me into the man I am. Genma was one of the few people to look at me as not just the Kyuubi or the class failure but rather as a child who needed support and guidance. I fell asleep and dreamed of Ninja life with a pink haired beauty next to me.

"So you still pine after Sakura. Does she know what you are planning?" Jiraiya sat next to his student looking at the surroundings not quite taking it in. Jiraiya mulled over his students words. He had a little more understanding into the distant nature of his student. He had never quite come to terms with Mizuki's death.

"Hmm." Was the blonde's only reply as he too thought about the past.

Thanks for reading reviews would be appreciated whether its your thoughts on the story or picking up any mistakes.

I will try to post on like a weekly basis. No promises though.

Have a good day

Darius out.